Railway signal-torpedo.



F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4. 1912.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEF SSHEET l.

amvewtoz COLUMBIA PLANOEIRAPH CO-,WASH!NGTDN, D. c.

F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATI 0N FILED APR. 4. 1912.

Patented Sept. 7', 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm. WASHINGTON. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BUTCHER, 0F VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A GORIORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern: p

Be it known that I, FRANK. DUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State,

known to me, it has been necessary to make these cases thick in order to be able to make the paper case waterproof. These thlck paper cases form an objectionable cushion sometimes preventing explosion.

One object of my present invention 1s to provide a thin metallic foil covering for a paper case torpedo, whereby the paper case can be made of thin paper overcoming the cushion effect, the metallic foil providing an eflicient waterproof protection for the case and the explosive therein and at the same time so thin that there will be no appreciable flying metal particles when the torpedo explodes.

Another object of my present invention is to so apply the foil metallic covering to the paper case that a metal strap carrying clip can be clamped to the cover without engaging the paper case, whereby all danger of explosion in clamping the clip to the tor pedo in process of manufacture is prevented. Another object of my present invention is to make this metallic foil of aluminum whereby it is sufliciently tough and strong not to be cut or injured bythejclamping edge of the clip under theclamping pressure and to stand the use of handling and application to the railway rail without being injured.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view of my improved torpedo showing it carrying two lead straps and in position on a railway rail. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the parts of the torpedo shown in separated relation. Fig. 5 is an inverted view of the torpedo, showing a clip constructed to receive a Specification of Letters Patent.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO. V

Patented Sept. '7, 1915.

, Application filed April 4, 1912. Serial No. 688,569.

spring strap. Fig. 6 is a side elevation,

showing the spring strap torpedo on the:

Fig. 7 is. a slde view of a clip with two lead. straps applied thereto and in position on a railway ra l. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is'an inverted per spective view of the clip constructed to receive either two lead straps or a spring strap.

Referring now to the drawings in which railway rail and spring strap broken and falling away in dotted lines.

like reference characters denote the same parts, 1 is an open ended thin papercase to receive an explosive compound 2. This compound is preferably held in the case by a suitable composition 3, placed in and sealing the open ends of the case 1. Placed around this case 1 and entirely inclosing it is a thin metallic foil 4, preferably made of aluminum. This foil covering 4 is made. in the form of a blank, as shown in Fig. 4. .The paper case, as here shown, is preferably made of a double wedge-shape at itsedges, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The foil covering is made from a sheet 5, preferably formed, as shown in Fig. 4, and preferably has its longitudinal edges cut away at its ends 6 and at its central portion 7, and is adapted to be folded on the dotted lines a to have the ends I) extend under the bottom of the case 1, and double folded on the diagonal lines 0 to fold under the corners of the case and bent downward at the lines d to fit the wedge-shaped top of the torpedo, and outward at the lines a to form the outwardly extending top flanges f, the edges of the portion 6 forming the under portion 9 of h. This enables the corners i of the flanges to be bent in contact and to form shoulders by reason of this construction, which prevent the clip from possibly being slid endwise off of the torpedo.

It is understood, of course, that the flanges h are to be tightly clamped on the flanges f, 9, t h s end nspf e ar ers. as tated, i

adds additional security against any move ment whatever of the clip on the torpedo.

If desired, the completed torpedo maybe dipped into a waterproof compound. It has; been found in practice, diflicult to. make a,

- paper explosive containing case suiiiciently waterproof to stand the severe testsrequired by railroads in order to meet the conditions required in excluding moisture under allweathen conditions to which railway signal I torpedoes are subjected,- and' it has beenfound thatto meet these requirements itis; necessaryto make the papercases thick,- and} to do this from six to eight layers or'wrappings ofpaperis required The thick wa-ll casethus-formed provides an objectionable cushion which, in practice, 80111613111168 pre vents the explosion of the compound within the-- case when thewheel of the-locomotive passes thereoven whenitisunderstood that forisafety in themanufacture and handling of-thetorpedo it is not practicaljto have a very sensitive-explosive compound;

improved torpedo, asherein described; overcomes the foregoing difliculties and 5 makes an efficient and'reliable torpedo. It enables a thin paper case, from two to three; layers,- to be used which avoidsth'e cushion effect, before'referred to, while at the same time the metallic toil covering enables; an eflicient waterproofing of the "tor- 'pedo to exclude the moisture and to meet all the tests required without the; before men tioned objections.

In Fig, 4 the metalcl ip 8, is provided with openings 11, through which aflspring clip-1 2, such as shownin Fig, 5 may be applied thereto, and also 1 openings 13, through which twolead straps 14: may be passed, whereby the clip enables the manufacturertouse either a spring strap or lead-straps,

'This- -does not form'an y partof my present;- invention, but 1s made the subject-matter-oh the claims of co-pending application, and, forthisreason, no claim is madein this application therefor.

In-Figs. 5 and; 6, I show the clip 8, with only-the openings 11 for the spring strip 12. The bends 15 in the spring stripare forcaus- This will be appreciated ing the strip to break when passed over by he heels fa ca f an a aw y, as hown n. F a. a a h s o ms noepar i' my p ese invention and no claim is herein madetherefor since 1t,1s the sub ect-matter 'OfOlZLlIIlS ofaco-pending application.

Figs? and 8 show views of my improved and projecting beyond the-ends ofthe said explosive containingcase and formed into projecti 1-1-g-clip recewmgfianges, a -cl1p havra1l-engag-ing-strap carried-by the said clip,

the said flanges of the said clip clamping the saidprojecting clip receiving flanges, wherebyall danger of explosion in clampingitsend turned over toform flanges, a 1

ing-the clip-to the torpedo is prevented and whereby awater-proof non-flying torpedo is produced inwhiclr cushioning by the impact of the car-wheelsis prevented;

2: A railway signal torpedo comprising a "thin aeerex losive'contai-nin case a cover of metallicfoil folded about the said case, the unction of the said folds proj ecting be yond theendsofi the said-case, the-corners of' the said folded ends :folded upon themselves, and a-- clip having; itsends turned over to formflanges, the said flanges of the clip clamping-the said projecting ends of the folds and the folded corners thereof forming mean-sforattaching theclip to the foil'coveri'ng-with'out engaging the explosive containing case, the folded corners of the metallic covering: forming means for locking the clip- -to the saidcovering.

In testimony whereof "I hereunto affixsmy signature in the presence oitwo witnesses F ANK D G R-v Witnesses:

R." W. JUNKER, G. MYLE NARD.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for-five cents each, bywadd-ressingithe Commissioner of iatents, Washington, I). G. 

